Abstract

ASSESSMENT OF THE KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE, AND PERCEPTION OF SUDANESE COMMUNITY PHARMACISTS TOWARDS GENERIC MEDICINES.

Maysoon Mohamed Elfateh Mousa, Kamal Addin Mohammad Ahmad Idris*

Abstract

Introduction: Community pharmacists are important members of the health care team. They procure, stock, store, recommend, dispense and monitor drugs therapeutic outcomes for patients. Objective: Main objective of this study is: to assess the knowledge, attitude and perception of community pharmacists towards generic medicines; which secure availability and affordability of patients. Methods: A structured open to answer questionnaire of (30) close -ended questions, was handed over to all community pharmacists (116) in Khartoum North, Town center, Sudan. Results: were expressed in frequencies and percentages. Data were analyzed using IBM-SPSS version 20. Results showed majority (74.1%) of participantswere young, average age (28.4) years, females (69.8%). Majority (88.8%) had undergraduate studies in Sudan. Majority (88.9%) had fair practical experience (1-10 years). Majority (95.7%) differentiated genericsfrom brands. Majority (71.6%) believed thatgenericsmust prove bioequivalent to theirbranded counterparts. Majority (60.3%) doubted thatgenerics licensedin Sudan, passed bioequivalence tests. Majority (69%) reported poor patients’ satisfaction with generics. Majority (74.1%) practiced generics substitution upon prescribers’ (67.2%) and patients’ (65.5%) endorsement. Majority (81.9%) appreciated affordability benefits of generics. Majority (71.6%) wereskeptical about substitution ofnarrow therapeutics index products. Associations between participants' demographics (age, gender, marital status, place of undergraduate studies, employment status, post graduate studies, community pharmacy practice) and respondents’ knowledge, attitude, and perception of genericsproved significant, (P< 0.05). Conclusion: Results suggest that participants had good knowledge and perception about generics. Recommendation: Pharmacists shall continuously educate themselves to improve their knowledge, attitude and perceptions about generic medicines.

Keywords: Sudanese, community, pharmacists, knowledge, attitude, perception, generics.